Brazil, Bosnia and Herzegovina
EPSU position on the EU’s Western Balkans Strategy: strengthen collective bargaining, build independent high quality public administrations and institutions and invest in public services
The Western Balkan strategy of the European Commission is a significant step in providing positive prospects for the workers and people of these countries
Government faces protests from pensioners and trade unions
Low pensions and an anti-trade union labour law are creating widespread opposition against the government of the Bosnian federation. Following last month's protest against the new labour code, unions wrote to the government calling on it to amend the legislation or face further demonstrations. Similar protests are in prospect now in the Srpska Republic where the government is planning to introduce labour legislation along the same lines as that of the Federation. [Read more at > Balkan Insight news website (EN)->http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bosnia-s-federation-government-faces
Major protest against new labour law
Thousands of workers joined a demonstration in Sarajevo in opposition to a new labour code adopted by the parliament of the Bosnian Federation. The protestors were also joined by trade unionists from Repubika Srpska where the labour code will be debated in parliament later this year. Trade unions are concerned about the weakening of employment rights enshrined in the legislation which is being adopted by the government in response to pressures to agree labour reforms to meet lending conditions required by the International Monetary Fund. [Read more at > Balkan Insight news website (EN)->http:/
Public sector workers strike over 10% pay cut
Public sector workers in Bosnia's Serb Republic went on strike on 21 January in response to the government's imposition of austerity measures including a 10% cut in pay. The government had offered a pay rise later in the year if the unions didn't go on strike. The austerity measures are in response to International Monetary Fund loan conditions. Read more at > Reuters (EN)